Brian Umberger

Through our research, we seek to better understand the mechanics, energetics, and control of bipedal locomotion (e.g., walking, running, pedaling). A primary focus is the in vivo function of skeletal muscle during locomotion. In much of our work, we use a combined experimental / modeling approach. Thus, we have invested considerable time in developing and evaluating computational models of the musculoskeletal system. We do research primarily in three overlapping areas: muscle function in locomotion, the evolution of bipedalism, and gait pathology in conditions such as cerebral palsy.